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I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

I say the truth, … — As any one is more assured of his own salvation, the more he desireth the salvation of others. Charity is no churl; as we see here in Paul.

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That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

Continual sorrow — Such as a woman in travail hath, οδυνη . So Galatians 4:19 .

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For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Were accursed — Devoted to destruction, αναθεμα , as those malefactors among the heathens were, that in time of common calamity were sacrificed to their infernal gods, for pacifying their displeasure, that the plague might cease. Out of greatest zeal to God and love to his countrymen, the apostle wisheth himself anathema, that is, not to be separated from the Spirit and grace of Christ (for so he should have sinned), but from the comforts of Christ, the happiness that comes in by Christ, as one well interpreteth it. Charitas exuberans optat etiam impossibilia, saith Luther; his over abounding charity wishs impossibilities; but his wish was voluntas conditionata, saith one. His love to the Church was like the ivy, which if it cleave to a stone or an old wall, will rather die than forsake it. Somewhat like to this holy wish was that of Ambrose, that the fire of contentions kindled in the Churches might (if it were the will of God) be quenched with his blood. And that of Nazianzen, that (Jonah-like) he might be cast into the sea, so by it all might be calm in the public.

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Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God , and the promises;

The adoption — For Israel was God’s firstborn, and so "higher than the kings of the earth," Psalms 89:27 .

And the glory — The ark of the covenant, 1 Samuel 4:21 , whence Judea is called "the glorious land," Daniel 11:41 . As for the ark, it is elsewhere called God’s face, Psalms 105:4 . Yea, God himself, Psalms 132:5 .

The covenants — The moral law in two tables.

The giving of the law — The judicial law.

The service — The ceremonial law.

The promises — Of the gospel made to Abraham, and his seed for ever. These promises are a precious book, every leaf whereof drops myrrh and mercy.

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Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came , who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Of whom is Christ — This is as great an honour to all mankind (how much more to the Jews!) as if the king should marry into some poor family of his subjects.

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Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Not as though the word — That word of promise, Romans 9:4 , which is sure hold, "Yea and Amen."

For they are not all Israel — Multi sacerdotes, et pauci sacerdotes, Many priests and few priests, saith Chrysostom, multi in nomine, et pauci in opere, many in name and few in work. So here.

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Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Neither because they are — This profiteth them no more than it did Dives that Abraham called him son.

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That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

The children of the promise — Abraham by believing God’s promise, begat, after a sort, all believers, yea, Christ himself, the head of his seed, his Son according to the flesh, but more according to the faith.

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